Thief Emperor

Chapter 1126 The Four Barbarians Submit
Upon hearing the word "Erlang," Li Yun was filled with mixed emotions. He didn't speak, but simply clinked glasses with Su Sheng. After they drank it all in one gulp, Emperor Li sighed deeply.

“Looking back, without Master Su, it would be difficult for you and me to sit here today. Without my elder brother, starting a business in Jiangdong would not have been so smooth.”

“I have always kept these things in mind.”

Emperor Li paused for a moment, then continued, "Although our two families are of different surnames, we are brothers."

Upon hearing these words, Su Sheng's eyes reddened. He lowered his head and said, "With Erlang's abilities, it was only a matter of time. My father may have had some achievements back then, but as for me..."

He shook his head and said, "Now, all he has is the title of 'old,' he doesn't have any great abilities."

Li Yun chuckled but didn't reply. Instead, he said, "Chen Da left the capital today. He should be able to sort out the situation in the Northwest this year. It won't be good to let him continue as the General of Chang'an."

"He has been away from Luoyang for many years, it's time to let him return to the court."

"Of the many generals in the court, who do you think is most suitable to be stationed in Guanzhong and succeed as the General of Chang'an?"

After thinking for a moment, Su Sheng gave his answer.

"He Jun, that's enough."

He said to Li Yun, "After Guanzhong, there won't be any major battles. He Jun is a steady person, and there's no problem with him being sent to Guanzhong. If there is a war in the Northwest in the future, we can temporarily send a commander-in-chief instead of having He Jun as the commander."

Li Yun hummed in agreement and nodded, saying, "Then let's do it that way."

He thought for a moment and then said, "Su Zhan has been trained for so many years. Next year, let him go to Taiyuan to command troops, or let him serve as a general of the Twelve Imperial Guards."

Su Zhan, who followed Li Yun back then, is now forty years old. Over the years, he has taken on various jobs and traveled around. His abilities and qualifications are no longer a problem.

Su Sheng said with a smile, "Su Zhan is good; he's much better than Su Huan."

He said solemnly, "Your Majesty, if my children and grandchildren are not successful in the future, it would be better to give the title of Duke of Wei to Su Zhan."

Li Yun shook his head.

"There's no need to talk about such things now."

Su Sheng sighed: "We have to make things clear, otherwise in a few years, it might be too late to tell His Majesty."

Li Yun didn't say anything, but poured himself a glass of wine and clinked glasses with Su Sheng.

"Life is often full of helplessness."

His Majesty the Emperor shook his head and sighed, "For so many years, I have worked diligently to make the world a better place, but more than a decade has passed in the blink of an eye, and things are still not done."

He looked at Su Sheng and sighed deeply: "My brothers from before have all grown old."

While the two were talking, Su Zhan, the fourth son of the Su family, finally returned to the Su residence with Princess Lujiang. The couple, holding their son Su Heng's hand, carefully entered the backyard and came to Li Yun and Su Sheng.

Su Zhan knelt on the ground and kowtowed, saying, "Greetings, Your Majesty, greetings, Father."

Princess Lujiang then pulled her son to bow, and said with a smile, "Father."

"Dad."

After saying that, she walked behind Li Yun and massaged his shoulders, saying with a smile, "How did Father Emperor manage to come to our Su family so quietly without even informing his daughter?"

Emperor Li beckoned to his grandson Su Heng and called him to his side. He held his grandson, looked up at his eldest daughter, but did not reply. He simply said in a low voice, "You two, just came from the princess's residence?"

Princess Lujiang massaged Li Yun's shoulders.

"Yes, I came over as soon as I heard the news."

Emperor Li then looked at his son-in-law, who had already stood up, and said, "My brother's health is not very good these days, so you should come and take care of him often."

"It's not far away, so I come back to stay occasionally."

Su Zhan quickly lowered his head: "Yes, Your Majesty."

Princess Lujiang nodded quickly, "I've remembered it too."

Emperor Li chatted with his daughter and son-in-law for a while, catching up on everyday matters. When it was almost time, he stood up, looked at his eldest daughter, and said, "Your younger brother has also left the palace to establish his own household. We should arrange a marriage for him this year. You travel around all day and know a lot of people, so help us find someone suitable."

The fifth prince, Prince Xiang, Li Ling, was born to Consort Lu and was the younger brother of Princess Lujiang, sharing the same father and mother.

Princess Lujiang quickly replied, "My fifth son visited me at the princess's residence a few days ago. Father, please rest assured, I've taken care of his marriage."

Li Yun glanced at his daughter, shook his head helplessly, then looked at Su Sheng, cupped his hands and said, "Brother, I have things to attend to in the palace, so I won't stay any longer. Please take good care of yourself, and come visit me in the palace when you've recovered."

"Let's get together, old brothers, and have a drink."

As he spoke, he bowed slightly in greeting.

Su Sheng was startled and quickly stepped aside, avoiding the emperor's formalities, and said with a wry smile, "Your Majesty, this is shortening my lifespan..."

"It's just a courtesy between peers."

Li Yun said with a smile, "There are no outsiders here, it's all home."

After saying that, he looked at his son-in-law and said in a low voice, "Su Zhan."

Su Silang quickly bowed his head: "Your subject is here."

"You don't have any duties for the time being, but I'll give you one. Your father is in poor health, so you must take good care of him and be filial to him for the next few years."

"If you need any medicine, just go with Shu'er to the Imperial Hospital to get it."

Su Zhan quickly lowered his head: "Your subject obeys."

Emperor Li turned around and patted his daughter's head again. "It's getting late, Father is going back to the palace."

Princess Lujiang quickly said, "I'll see you off."

Li Yun smiled.

"it is good."

………………

Several more days passed, and the day of the grand court assembly arrived.

At the grand court assembly, His Majesty the Emperor sat on the dragon throne, his face expressionless, silently listening to the reports and responses from his officials.

After the important matters had been discussed, His Highness the Crown Prince, standing at the head of the court, bowed to Li Yun and said, "Father, the Khitan leader Yelü Yi has been in Luoyang for three days. The Ministry of Rites contacted him and reported to me. I have already arranged for him to wait for me outside the palace."

Emperor Li then snapped out of his reverie. He looked at the Crown Prince and asked, "Has the Crown Prince met with him?"

The Crown Prince quickly bowed his head and said, "Your subject has not yet met him; it was the officials from the Ministry of Rites who met him."

His Majesty the Emperor nodded: "Very well, let him in."

The fact that Yelü Yi was able to appear outside the Taiji Hall suggests that the negotiations between the two sides have most likely come to an end.

Li Yun was aware of this matter, but he was not directly involved.

A decade or two ago, when Li Yun first arrived in Youzhou, the Khitan Khan was still a formidable adversary to him.

Even a few years ago, the Khitan tribe was a potential threat to Li Yun.

However, after Meng Qing reclaimed Youyan and rebuilt Yuguan, Li Yun no longer considered him a very important figure because of the Khitan Khan.

Soon, Khitan Khan Yelü Yi strode into the Taiji Hall.

When Li Yun was in his twenties, Yelü Yi was already nearly forty. Now, this Khitan Khan is nearly sixty, with large patches of white hair and beard.

Among the Khitan tribe, he was already considered to be long-lived.

The Khitan Khan entered the Taiji Hall, looked around, and finally looked up at Li Yun. He then quickly lowered his head, walked to the steps, knelt down, and kowtowed, saying, "Your subject Yelü Yi."

"Greetings to His Majesty the Emperor of the Great Tang Dynasty."

Emperor Li sat on the dragon throne, looking at the Khitan Khan kneeling before him, who had once been a major threat to the Central Plains. He narrowed his eyes before speaking, "Rise."

After Yelü Yi stood up, Emperor Li smiled and said, "Your Han language is also quite good."

Yelü Yi lowered his head and said, "I have been learning Chinese since I was a child."

The emperor nodded.

"I heard that you were going to come to Luoyang to see me two years ago, why have you only arrived now?"

Yelü Yi bowed his head and said, "Your Majesty, I have long intended to come and pay my respects to you, but I have been ill for the past two years and have therefore been unable to come to Luoyang to pay my respects."

The emperor smiled and asked, "Are you feeling better now?"

Yelü Yi lowered his head and said, "No, but I am already old and frail. If I don't come to Luoyang now, I'm afraid I will never be able to come again in this lifetime."

He looked up at Li Yun, then lowered his head again, respectfully saying, "This time, I have brought twenty carts of furs and precious goods, as well as fifty beauties from my tribe, to present to Your Majesty."

Upon hearing this, His Majesty the Emperor touched his nose.

Why do these people send women to every person who comes to Luoyang?
Am I some kind of lecherous man?

He coughed lightly and said calmly, "Thank you for your thoughtfulness."

With that, the emperor looked at the crown prince and said, "Have the Ministry of Rites accept it for the time being."

After saying this, Li Yun looked at the flexible and adaptable Khitan Khan again and said with a smile, "Do you have any requests?"

"Your Majesty, I request that you bestow upon my son Yelü Bei the title of the new Khitan Khan."

The former leader of the Khitan tribes knelt on the ground again, bowed his head and kowtowed, saying, "The Yelü family will serve the Tang Dynasty for generations to come."

"To be forever under the rule of the Great Tang Dynasty."

Emperor Li then narrowed his eyes.

It turns out he's too old and plans to retire.

That's why I dared to come to Luoyang.

He thought for a moment, then said calmly, "I agree."

"Once the imperial court has drafted the document, it will send an envoy to Liaodong to confer the title of Khitan Khan."

At this point, Li Yun looked at the Crown Prince, and the Crown Prince also looked at Li Yun.

Both father and son smiled slightly.

Both father and son knew in their hearts that the imperial court was indeed going to confer the title of Khitan Khan.

嗏

not one.

(End of this chapter)